Dog Missing For 17 Months Reunited With Family In New Jersey

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HILLSBOROUGH, N.J. (CBSNewYork) – A Labrador Retriever that went missing in November 2012 has been reunited with its family in New Jersey.

Myra Cruz of Hillsborough thought someone was playing an April Fool’s Day prank on her when she received a call from police Tuesday informing her that her dog had been found after 17 months.

Police picked up Wesley in West Windsor after receiving a call about a loose dog early Tuesday morning. Officers said Wesley jumped right into the back of the patrol car and seemed more than happy to go for a ride.

The dog was taken to Weber’s Boarding Facility, where his Microchip was identified. Officers were able to use the information from the chip to track down Wesley’s family.

Once police convinced Cruz that it was not a joke, she went with her husband, Miguel, and son to the West Windsor Police Headquarters to be reunited with Wesley.

Miguel Cruz said Wesley gained about 20 pounds in the time he was gone and the family believes someone had been taking care of him.

Wesley (West Windsor Police Department)

“He’s huge,” Cruz told 1010 WINS. “They were probably feeding him everything he could put down and he likes everything, he’s a Labrador — they’ll gobble down just about anything.”

He said it appears that Wesley remembers them and is glad to be home.

“This morning when we came down from the bedrooms he was just losing his mind, jumping in the air and he’s really happy to see us, Cruz said. “He’s been to all his favorite little spots, he’s laying down where he usually lays down, so he knows he’s home, we’re sure he does.”